System and method for keyboard independent touch typing

ABSTRACT

A finger-mounted data entry device that allows a user to enter information into a computing device without using a keyboard and a method of using the data entry device. The data entry device includes thumb contacts and finger contacts. The thumb contacts are positioned on the user&#39;s thumbs such that the thumb contacts represent rows of keys on a standard keyboard: a first thumb contact representing a base row of keys; a second thumb contact representing an upper row of keys; and a third thumb contact representing a lower row of keys. The finger contacts are positioned on each of the user&#39;s fingers such that touching one of the finger contacts with the first thumb contact generates a signal that is equivalent to the signal that would be generated if the user used touch typing to press a key in the base row of keys on the standard keyboard using the same finger, touching one of the finger contacts with the second thumb contact generates a signal that is equivalent to the signal that would be generated if the user used touch typing to press a key in the upper row of keys on the standard keyboard using the same finger, and touching one of the finger contacts with the third thumb contact generates a signal that is equivalent to the signal that would be generated if the user used touch typing to press a key in the lower row of keys on the standard keyboard using the same finger.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.10/061,885 entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR KEYBOARD INDEPENDENT TOUCHTYPING filed Feb. 1, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,670,894, which claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/266,104, filed Feb. 5,2001, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT

(Not Applicable)

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to computer data entry and moreparticularly to a keyboardless method of computer entry using electriccontacts positioned on a user's fingers and thumbs.

A common method for entering information into a computer is via akeyboard, such as a 101-key type keyboard. These keyboards tend to befairly large and relatively heavy, and thus are typically placed on asupport surface, such as a desk or table.

The size and weight of typical keyboards, such as those used with adesktop computer, make them poor candidates for use with mobilecomputing devices, such as personal digital assistants (PDAs) or pocketpersonal computers (PCs) which can be about the size of a cigarette boxyet provide computational resources comparable to those of desktopcomputers. Such mobile computing devices typically include a miniaturekeyboard, for example a miniature keyboard that may be worn on theuser's wrist or an image of a keyboard that is displayed on the screenthat requires the user to press the keys with a stylus or using anattached device that requires the user to input data using his thumbs.Such data entry is difficult and error prone and does not allow the userto enter data at a sufficient speed. Other devices for data input formobile devices, such as pocket PCs, include chording devices (such as akeypad that requires the user to press different key combinations togenerate the various characters found on a standard keyboard) or the useof microphones in combination with voice recognition software. Theformer input devices typically do not meet the data input rates desiredby the users of mobile computing devices (particularly pocket PCs) orthey require the user to learn a chording/coding language particular tothe specific design. On the other hand, privacy concerns limit the useof voice recognition devices; for example, input of confidential orsensitive data via voice recognition devices is not feasible inconferences, in meetings, or in crowded or noisy public places, such asbus stops or airports.

As keyboard size is shrunk in order to increase portability, so does thespeed at which information can be entered into the computing device.Thus, there is a need for a device that allows the user of a mobilecomputing device to enter information into the mobile computing deviceat a relatively fast speed without using a full-size or miniaturizedkeyboard.

There are several devices and methods of using such devices that solvethe problem of data entry without requiring the use of a traditionalfull-size or miniaturized keyboard. One method is a folding keyboard.While more compact than a traditional full-size keyboard, particularlyin the folded state during transport, a folding keyboard is stillrelatively large in the unfolded stage and requires approximately thesame size support surface as that required for a traditional full-sizekeyboard. Another device is a keyboard employing a reduced number offull size keys, for example, a one-handed keyboard or half-keyboard,such as the ones disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,288,158 entitledONE-HANDED KEYBOARD and U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,594 entitled KEYBOARD FORTOUCH TYPING USING ONLY ONE HAND. These keyboards use one half of atraditional keyboard whereby now a single key represents two characters.A specified key sequence, such as holding down the space bar while“typing” toggles between the two sets of characters. For example, thecharacter “F” may be located at the position where the user's indexfinger is placed onto the half-keyboard (assuming the hand being used isthe left hand). That same position key would represent the character “J”(which is normally pressed by the user's right index finger) when thehalf-keyboard is toggled. Even though half-keyboards are significantlysmaller than traditional keyboards, half-keyboards still require asupport surface.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,846 entitled BODY WEARABLE KEYBOARD solves theproblem of requiring a support surface by providing a full size keyboardthat has key clusters that can be moved or rotated so that the keyboardcan be used in a conventional manner on a support surface or worn on thebody. This device resolves the need for a support surface. However, manyusers may not wish to carry around a keyboard that is relatively heavyand bulky compared to the mobile computing device. Thus, it is desirableto have a device for entering information (e.g., alpha-numeric text)into a computer, for example, a mobile computer, such as a pocket PC,without the use of a keyboard.

There are several devices and methods of using such devices that solvethe problem of data entry without requiring a keyboard. Many of thesedevices use finger or hand mounted sensors in order to generate thesignals that would normally be generated by pressing a key on thekeyboard. Electric contacts may, for example, be attached to gloves ormittens that are worn on a user's hands.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,581,484 entitled FINGER MOUNTED COMPUTER INPUT DEVICEdiscloses a glove having pressure sensors which are worn on a user'sfingers. Generally speaking, U.S. Pat. No. 5,581,484 discloses a devicethat senses finger positioning with respect to a solid surface, thelatter being treated as a standard keyboard. The user uses traditionaltouch-typing skills on any flat surface. Based on the characteristicfinger positions when typing a character on a standard keyboard, thedevice is able to use the hand mounted sensors to interpret fingerposition with respect to the solid surface as the same character thatthe user would have typed if the solid surface were a keyboard. Devicessuch as the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,581,484 have the advantagethat they are easy to use since they mimic touch-typing skills. However,even though devices such as the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,581,484do not require a surface for supporting a keyboard, they do require asurface for the user to type on as if the user were typing on akeyboard. An additional disadvantage of devices such as the onedisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,581,484 is that they are subject toinadvertent, erroneous input. For example, if a user scratches his nose,the device will detect pressure and will generate spurious characters.Thus, corrections must be made or the device must be turned off if theuser makes any non-typing movements with his hands.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,304,840 entitled FINGERLESS GLOVE FOR INTERACTING WITHDATA PROCESSING SYSTEM discloses a fingerless glove that is similar tothe device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,581,484. While this device doesovercome some of the disadvantages associated with the device disclosedin U.S. Pat. No. 5,581,484, such as erroneous input due to usermovements, the device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,304,840 does requirea surface for the user to type on as if the user were typing on akeyboard.

Thus, there is a need for a method of entry information into a mobilecomputing device without a keyboard and without requiring a supportsurface for entering the information. This need is addressed in thepaper The Chording Glove: A Glove-Based Text Input Device by RobertRosenberg and Mel Slater which discloses a glove having contacts atvarious positions on a user's fingers and thumbs. The device is similarto a chording device/keyboard. Instead of pressing a single key, variouscombinations of contacts are pressed simultaneously in order to generatethe signal that would be generated by pressing an individual key on astandard keyboard. The various signals are generated by simultaneouslycontacting from 2-5 contacts. Although chording gloves like otherhandheld chording devices overcome the problem of requiring a supportsurface, use of such systems require substantial training as the userhas to essentially learn a new coding language.

The paper Thumbcode: A Device-Independent Digital Sign Language byVaughan R. Pratt discloses a system for entering information into acomputing device using contact on the fingers and thumbs. The thumbcontact on one of the user's hands is closed with a contact on one ofthe fingers. Additionally, the user must either place fingers in contactwith each other or space them apart in order to determine the intendedcharacter. As with chording, thumbcoding requires a user to essentiallylearn a new coding language in order to enter data into the computingdevice.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,097,374 titled WRIST-PENDENT WIRELESS OPTICAL KEYBOARDdiscloses a method in which signal input is achieved via finger motionover an optical reflectance matrix generated above the palms of theuser's hands. In principle, this system can be used to achieve datainput via touch typing without keyboard. However, generation of theoptical matrix and detection of finger position in this matrix is fairlycomplicated. Furthermore, the system has to be calibrated (possibly inreal time) for specific ambient conditions, such as strong ambientillumination or electromagnetic interference. In fact, in U.S. Pat. No.6,097,374, the use of keypads fixed to the wrist of the user and locatedbelow the palms of the user is suggested or considered necessary forcertain applications. The lack of tactile feedback (providingconfirmation of data input to the user analogous to touch-typing on akeyboard) may result in lower data input rates. Furthermore, the use ofan optical reflection matrix, such as the one disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.6,097,374, to detect signal input by predicting finger position withrespect to the optical matrix below the user's hands does not allow forfree finger motion without the risk of data input. Rather, the user hasto hold the hands and fingers in a more-or-less stretched out positionin order to omit interference with the optical matrix.

The devices described above are too large, are user unfriendly in anergonomic sense, do not allow users to enter information at sufficientspeeds, require a support surface, require the user to learn a newcoding language, or some combination thereof. Most user's whenconfronted with having to learn an entirely new coding language in orderto enter information into a computing device will likely opt not to usesuch a device. Thus, to achieve truly portable computing capabilities(e.g., using a pocket PC with an attached eye-glass display whilewalking or standing at a bus stop), there is a need for a keyboardlessinput device that is easy and comfortable to use, that allows forrelatively fast data entry speeds, and that does not require significanttraining time. The device should be simple in its technical design andinexpensive.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a data entry device and a method of usingthe data entry device that allow a user to enter information into acomputing device without using a keyboard. The data entry deviceincludes thumb contacts and finger contacts. The thumb contacts arepositioned on the user's thumbs to represent rows of keys on a standardkeyboard. A first thumb contact represents a base row of keys, a secondthumb contact represents an upper row of keys, and a third thumb contactrepresents a lower row of keys. The finger contacts are positioned oneach of the user's fingers such that touching one of the finger contactswith the first thumb contact generates a signal that is equivalent tothe signal that would be generated if the user used touch typing topress a key in the base row of keys on the standard keyboard using thesame finger, touching one of the finger contacts with the second thumbcontact generates a signal that is equivalent to the signal that wouldbe generated if the user used touch typing to press a key in the upperrow of keys on the standard keyboard using the same finger, and touchingone of the finger contacts with the third thumb contact generates asignal that is equivalent to the signal that would be generated if theuser used touch typing to press a key in the lower row of keys on thestandard keyboard using the same finger.

Preferably, the finger contacts are positioned at the user's fingertips.

Preferably, the data entry device includes fourth, fifth and sixth thumbcontacts that are used to generate signals that are equivalent tosignals generated by additional keys on the standard keyboard since somefingers are used to press multiple keys in the same row and since afourth thumb contact located on the palm-side of the thumb, representinga fourth row of numeric keys on a traditional keyboard, has not beenused here.

The signal generated is transmitted to the computing device.

Supplemental finger contacts may be used for producing signalsrepresenting special characters. There may be three supplemental fingercontacts on each finger. One supplemental finger contact may be locatedproximate a first segment of the user's finger, one supplemental fingercontact may be located proximate a second segment of the user's fingerand one supplemental finger contact may be located proximate a thirdsegment of the user's finger. Signals representing special charactersare generated by touching/closing a supplemental finger contact with thethumb contact located on the palm-side tip of the thumb on the samehand. Additional supplemental contacts may be used to generate digits0-9 and may be positioned on the finger tips, e.g., on or above thefinger nails.

The data entry device may be used to generate alpha-numeric signalsusing fingering that is similar to the fingering used for touch typingon a QWERTY keyboard.

The finger contacts and thumb contacts may be attached to a glove thatis worn by the user. Alternatively, the finger contacts and the thumbcontacts may be attached to a flexible skeletal structure that is wornby the user. The flexible skeletal structure may have attached clipsthat are configured to hold the contacts at the appropriate position onthe user's fingers. As another alternative, the finger contacts and thethumb contacts may be located on rings that are worn on the user'sfingers and thumbs. An application and retrieving device may be used forplacing the rings on or removing the rings off of the user's fingers andthumbs.

The thumb contacts and finger contacts may be positioned on both of theuser's hands. Alternatively, the finger and thumb contacts may bepositioned on one hand to simulate a half-keyboard. A sensor is added todetermine the position of the user's hand. One position is used togenerate signals equivalent to those in one configuration of thehalf-keyboard. A second positioning of the user's hand is used togenerate the signals that are generated when the half-keyboard istoggled to the second or alternate character set.

In order to use the data entry device, finger contacts are positioned onthe user's fingers and thumb contacts are positioned on the user'sthumbs. The user closes (or touches) a finger contact and a thumbcontact to generate a signal that is equivalent to the signal that wouldbe generated by pressing a key on a keyboard using similar fingering,particularly for alpha-numeric characters. In response to closing thefinger contact and the thumb contact, the signal that is equivalent tothe signal that would be generated by pressing the key on a keyboardusing similar fingering is generated. The generated signal istransmitted to the computing device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These as well as other features of the present invention will becomemore apparent upon reference to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a standard U.S. keyboard (QWERTY keyboard) withannotations indicating contacts used in accordance with the presentinvention to generate the same signal for alphabetic character inputthat would be generated by pressing the key on the keyboard;

FIG. 2 illustrates placement of contacts on a user's fingers and thumbsto generate signals for alphabetic and special character input;

FIG. 3 illustrates placement of supplemental contacts on the back of auser's fingers as an alternative way to generate signals for numbers 0-9by combining the supplemental contact with a thumb contact of the samehand;

FIGS. 4A-4H are tables identifying finger/thumb contact combinationsused to generate various signals;

FIG. 5 illustrates a first embodiment of implementing the presentinvention wherein the contacts are attached to gloves (only the lefthand glove is shown carrying only contacts for alphabetic characterinput);

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate a second embodiment of the present inventionwherein clips having attached contacts are attached to a flexibleskeletal structure worn on the user's hands (only the left hand skeletalstructure is shown);

FIGS. 7A-7D illustrate a third embodiment of the present inventionwherein the contacts are attached to rings that are placed on the user'sfingers and thumbs; and

FIGS. 8A-C illustrate a fourth embodiment of the present invention usinga flexible skeletal structure composed of spiraling thin bands (one foreach finger) with imprinted electrical wires.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention allows a user to input data into a computingdevice without a keyboard in a manner that uses fingering that issimilar to that used when entering data using touch typing on a standardkeyboard. The invention uses contacts on a user's fingers and thumbs.The invention allows for arbitrary finger motion without data input, aslong as finger contacts and thumb contacts on a single hand do not meet.Thus, the present invention does not put severe restrictions on theuser's freedom of hand motion without data input. As described below,contacting one of the finger contacts with one of the thumb contacts onthe same hand generates the same signal as would be generated bydepressing a key on a keyboard.

Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes ofillustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention only, andnot for purposes of limiting the same, FIG. 1 illustrates a standardQWERTY keyboard. The present invention is discussed with reference to aQWERTY keyboard such as the one shown in FIG. 1. However, it will beappreciated that the present invention could be implemented to simulatetouch typing performed on other types of keyboards, such as a Dvorakkeyboard or a half-keyboard. Using the standard QWERTY keyboard shown inFIG. 1, a user's fingers are normally in a home position that includesplacing the left fifth finger (also known as the digitus minimus orpinky finger) on the “A” key, the left fourth finger (also known as thedigitus annularis or ring finger) on the “S” key, the left third finger(also known as the digitus medius or middle finger) on the “D” key andthe left second finger (also known as the index finger) on the “F” key.The home position for the right hand includes placement of the rightsecond finger on the “J” key, the right third finger on the “K” key, theright fourth finger on the “L” key and the right fifth finger on the “;”key. This row (“ASDF . . . ”) which is annotated in FIG. 1 with a solidline may be referred to as the base row. The row above the base row(“QWERTY . . . ”) which is annotated with a long dash line may bereferred to as the top row and the row below the base row (“ZXCV . . .”) which is annotated with a short dash line may be referred to as thebottom row.

FIG. 2 illustrates the positions of electric contacts 1-8, A-F, A0-F0,30 with respect to a user's fingers and thumbs. As shown in FIG. 2 bydashed lines, finger contacts 1-8 are located on the palm-side of theuser's hand near the tops of the fingers or the fingertips. There is onefinger contact 1-8 on each of the second, third, fourth and fifthfingers on each hand. There are six thumb contacts A-F, A0-F0 on eachfirst finger (also known as a thumb). As described in more detail below,signals for letters A-Z, and in one embodiment of the invention alsonumbers 0-9, are generated by contacting a finger contact 1-8 on one ofthe eight fingertips on the second-fifth fingers with one of the sixthumb contacts A-F, A0-F0 on the same hand as the contacted fingercontact 1-8.

As shown in FIG. 2, preferably, there are supplemental finger contacts30 located along the sides of the user's fingers located nearest theuser's thumbs. As shown in FIG. 2, any given finger may have threesupplemental contacts 30 located along the side of the finger, with onesupplemental contact 30 located proximate a first segment of the user'sfinger (e.g., near the top of the user's finger), one supplementalcontact 30 located proximate a second segment of the user's finger(e.g., in the middle of the user's finger) and one supplemental contact30 located proximate a third segment of the user's finger (e.g., nearthe base of the user's finger). These supplemental contacts 30 are usedto generate signals representing special characters as shown on FIG. 2.For example, the supplemental contacts 30 located near the base andmiddle of the forth and fifth fingers of the right hand are used togenerate the same signals that would be generated by the arrow (left,right, up and down) keys. A signal is generated by contacting aparticular supplemental contact 30 with the thumb contact A, D locatedon the inside tip of the thumb of the same hand. In other words,“thumb-coding” is used for these special characters due to theinfrequent use of the special characters.

As shown in FIG. 3, supplemental contacts 9-18 may be located on thefingernails or neighboring finger segments for input of the charactersrepresenting the digits 0-9. Upon using the “Shift” contacts, severalspecial characters can be generated using the supplemental contacts 9-18shown in FIG. 3. Data input for digits 1-5 is achieved by closing fingercontacts 9-13 with thumb contact A and data input for digits 6-9 and 0is achieved by closing finger contacts 14-18 with thumb contact D. Usingthe supplemental contacts 9-18 for input of digits 0-9 still usesfingering or finger movement analogous to the fingering on a standardkeyboard; however, now signal input is not achieved by combining acontact on the inside tip of the fingers with a thumb contact but ratherby combining a contact on the outside or nail-side of the finger tipswith the thumb contact located on the palm-side tip of the thumb of thesame hand. In other words, when using contacts 9-18 the thumb contactsA, D represent a fourth row of keys on a standard keyboard carrying thenumber keys.

FIGS. 4A-4H are tables illustrating finger-thumb contact combinationsused to generate the signals that would be generated for the keys on astandard computing keyboard, such as a QWERTY keyboard. The middle thumbcontacts B, E are used for characters in the base row. The top thumbcontacts A, D are used for characters in the top row and the bottomthumb contacts C, F are used for characters in the bottom row. Forexample, the character “A” is the character that would be typed usingthe fifth finger of the left hand in the home (base row) position. Thesignal representing the character “A” is generated when the fingercontact 1 on the fifth finger of the left hand is closed with the thumbcontact B which represents the base row and is located in the middleportion of the first finger or thumb on the inside (side nearest thesecond-fifth fingers). Since the left fifth finger is used to press the“Q” character located on the upper row of a keyboard, the signalrepresenting the character “Q” is generated by closing contact betweenthe fifth finger contact 1 and the top thumb contact A. As can be seenin FIGS. 1 and 4B, the combination of finger contact 1 and thumb contactA is used to generate the signal representing the character “Q.” Sincethe second finger is used to reach two characters on a given row, asecond thumb contact A0-F0 for each row is located on the back oroutside of the user's thumb. For example, to generate the signalrepresenting the character “F”, the finger-thumb contact combination 4-Bis used. The contact combination used to generate the character “G” is4-B0 which is contact of the left second finger 4 and the center contacton the outside of the user's left thumb B0. Note that, due to ergonomicreasons, finger-thumb contact 1-C is not used to generate ‘Z’ but rather8-E. Accordingly (:,;) is generated by one of the supplemental contacts30. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, contacts A0, B0 andD0, E0 are also used in combination with finger contacts 1-3 and 6-8 inorder to generate numeric input (digits 0-9) as shown in FIGS. 4G and4H. Here, two thumb contacts on the back-side of each thumb A0, B0, D0,E0 are used to represent a fourth row of keys on a standard keyboard(above the prescribed upper row) in order to mimic input of digits 0-9using fingers three-five of each hand. In this configuration, fingeringis still similar to fingering familiar from touch-typing on a standardkeyboard, even though only fingers three-five of each hand are used. Theprescribed method to generate numeric data input (as well as thealternative method using contacts 9-18), avoids the need of placing fourthumb contacts on the inside of each thumb in order to mimic a total offour rows on a standard keyboard. The latter is problematic consideringthe finite size of the electrical contacts and the limited area on theinside thumb which is easily accessible by the finger contacts on thepalm-side tips of the fingers.

Once a finger-thumb contact has been established, various methods can beused to generate the signals. For example, wires from the contacts maybe connected to a keyboard encoder. Keyboard encoders are small in size.For example, a typical keyboard encoder measures 1 cm×3 cm and has aheight of about 3 mm. The keyboard encoder may be located on top of theuser's hand. For example, the keyboard encoder may be attached to aglove, such as the one shown in FIG. 5, or a skeletal structure, such asthe one shown in FIG. 6A. The signal that is generated can then betransmitted to the computing device via wire or wireless, e.g., infrared(IR) or the like. The computing device can then display the characterrepresented by the signal. Techniques for generating and transmittingthe signals associated with keys on a keyboard, and accordingly herewith the closure of two electrical contacts, are known in the art andare not discussed in further detail herein.

FIGS. 5-8 illustrate various configurations that may be used forimplementing the present invention. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5,the contacts are attached to gloves (only one glove is shown carryingonly contacts for alphabetic character input). The contacts areconnected by wires to the encoder and transfer electronics. Preferably,the gloves are fairly thin and lightweight, thereby allowing the user toeasily manipulate his fingers.

FIGS. 6A-6B illustrate an alternative configuration having the contactsmounted on clips or half-rings. The clips are attached to a skeletalstructure 50. The keyboard encoder and transfer electronics (e.g.,wireless transmission electronics) are also mounted to the skeletalstructure 50. FIG. 6A shows an exemplary skeletal structure 50 for theleft hand. A similar structure is used for the right hand. The skeletalstructure 50 rests against the user's palms (or alternatively on theback of the user's hand) and the contacts are positioned on the user'sfingers by placing the clips (on which the contacts are mounted) aroundthe user's fingers and thumbs as shown in FIG. 6B. The clips can beattached to the skeletal structure 50 in a way that allows adjustment ofthe positions of the clips in order to accommodate different finger andthumb lengths. The skeletal structure 50 can also be adjustable in orderto accommodate hands of varying sizes. The main purpose of the skeletalstructure is to preserve the integrity of the overall system.

In another embodiment the contacts are located on full rings, as shownin FIGS. 7A-7D. The figures illustrate rings for a user's left hand.There is a comparable set of rings for the user's right hand. The fullrings are sized to fit at specific locations along a user's fingers. Therings are connected together, for example, via thin, flexible wires. Thewire for the contact on one ring connects to the next larger ring on thesame finger, and finally to the encoder and to the transmissionelectronics. For example, the contacts on the smallest ring (clip thatgoes over the user's fingertip) connects to the smallest full ring, themedium full ring, the largest full ring, and then to the encoder andtransfer electronics. The wires may be spiral wires with windings nestedinside each other when the rings are nested. When the rings are placedon the user's fingers, the spirals stretch axially to resemble springswinding around each finger. While the rings could each be put onindividually, the rings may be placed on the user's fingers using anapplication device 60, such as the one shown in FIG. 7A. The rings arenested together as shown in FIGS. 7B-7C. The nested rings are placed inthe holes of application device 60. The application device 60 having thenested rings in place in the holes is then placed on the user's hand andremoved. When the device is removed, a release mechanism ensures thatthe rings remain on the user's fingers and thumbs at the appropriatelocations as shown in FIG. 7D. Removal of the ring contacts is achievedby placing the application device 60 on the base of the fingers, afterwhich the release mechanism in unlocked. Stripping the applicationdevice 60 off the fingers then collects the rings. The “rings” worn onthe tip of the user's fingers will typically include two or threecontacts 1-18. These “rings” worn on the tips of the user's fingers maybe attached to the smallest of the three rings that include thesupplemental finger contacts 30. The rings may be flexible in order toallow for slight variations in diameter in order to accommodatedifferent finger and thumb sizes.

Another embodiment of a skeletal structure design is shown in FIGS.8A-8C. The illustrations show the flexible skeletal structure for theleft hand. There is a similar structure for the right (not shown). Thisconfiguration utilizes printed-circuit electrical wires on flexiblespiral-shaped substrate strips. The wiring is shaped to provide onewinding for each finger segment and three windings for the outermostthumb segment. On the fingers, each winding carries one of thesupplemental contacts 30 as well as two or three additional contacts atthe end of each spiral, i.e., near the tip of each finger. On the thumbseach winding carries two contacts A and A0, B and B0, or C and C0. Thewires for each finger and thumb are connected to the encoder, the latterbeing connected also to the transfer electronics. A configuration suchas the one shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B requires a finite stiffness orrigidity in order to preserve its shape when removed from the hand. Thelatter is necessary so that the user will be able to place his or herfingers through the spirals before beginning to use the unit. On theother hand, the wire structure should be flexible enough to allow easeof use of the device when placed on the fingers. In other words, therestrictions on freedom of finger movement should be minimized. FIG. 8Billustrates the flexible skeletal structure when not in use. Theflexible structure retains its general shape but bends with fingermovement when placed on a user's fingers, as shown in FIG. 8A. FIG. 8Cis a diagram showing the printed electrical wires and contacts onunwound spirals which are made of a flexible substrate.

It will be appreciated that various configurations of contacts can beused with any of the structural configurations (e.g., glove, skeletalstructure or rings). For example, any of the structural configurationsmay or may not include supplemental contacts 9-18. It will also beappreciated that the contacts may be visually marked, for example usingsign and/or color coding, in order to provide an indication of the keysrepresented by the contact.

As described above, the present invention includes contacts on both ofthe user's hands to simulate the fingering used on a standard keyboard,such as a QWERTY keyboard (particularly for characters A-Y). It will beappreciated that the present invention can also be configured to be usedon one of the user's hands to simulate a half-keyboard. The contacts onthe hand being used (either right or left) would be the same as theconfiguration of contacts when the present invention is configured inthe two-handed configuration as described above. The one-handedconfiguration includes an additional sensor. Preferably, the additionalsensor is located on the wrist and measures the angle of the wrist withrespect to a virtual axis between the wrist/lower arm joint and thelower arm/upper arm joint whereby a positive wrist angle representsone-half of the keyboard (e.g., the right half) and zero or a negativevalue represents the other half (e.g., left half) of the keyboard. Theuser would contact the contacts on the fingers and thumb as describedabove. For one half of the keyboard (e.g., the left half), the user'swrist would be in a normal (or down) position. To toggle to the otherset of characters (e.g., the right side of the keyboard), the user wouldmove his wrist to an up position. Also, in the prescribed one-handedconfiguration the shift contact is modified so that pressing the shiftcontact will lock the shift command and pressing the shift contact asecond time will unlock the shift command.

While an illustrative and presently preferred embodiment of theinvention has been described in detail herein, it is to be understoodthat the inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied andemployed and that the appended claims are intended to be construed toinclude such variations except insofar as limited by the prior art.

1. A finger mounted data entry device for a user to enter informationinto a computing device, the data entry device mounted on at least oneof a user's hands, each of the at least one of the user's hands having aplurality of fingers and one thumb, and a palm-side and a back-side, thedata entry device being adapted to accept data entry in a mannermimicking a keyboard that generates a signal representing a charactercorresponding to a key selected from a plurality of keys arranged in aplurality of rows on the keyboard, the data entry device comprising: twosets of thumb contacts positioned on respective ones of the user'sthumbs on each of the at least one of the user's hands, each set ofthumb contacts including a plurality of thumb contact wherein eachrespective one of the thumb contacts corresponds to a respective one ofthe plurality of rows on the keyboard; and a plurality of fingercontacts positioned on respective ones of the user's fingers on each ofthe at least one of the user's hands such that contact between any oneof the finger contacts and a respective one of the thumb contactsgenerates a signal equivalent to the signal that would be generated iftouch typing was used by the user to press a corresponding key in thecorresponding row of keys on the keyboard.
 2. The data entry device ofclaim 1, wherein the finger contacts are each positioned on thepalm-side of the user's hand proximate a tip of a respective one of theuser's fingers.
 3. The data entry device of claim 1, wherein the signalgenerated is transmitted to the computing device.
 4. The data entrydevice of claim 3, wherein the signal generated is transmitted to thecomputing device via wireless transmission.
 5. The data entry device ofclaim 4, wherein the signal generated is transmitted to the computingdevice via infrared transmission.
 6. The data entry device of claim 1,wherein the keyboard is a QWERTY keyboard.
 7. The data entry device ofclaim 1, wherein the finger contacts and thumb contacts are attached toa glove that is worn by the user.
 8. The data entry device of claim 1,wherein the finger contacts and the thumb contacts are attached to aflexible skeletal structure that is worn by the user.
 9. The data entrydevice of claim 8, wherein the flexible skeletal structure comprisesclips configured to hold the finger contacts and the thumb contacts atprescribed positions on the user's fingers and thumbs.
 10. The dataentry device of claim 8, wherein the flexible skeletal structurecomprises thin flexible spirals carrying imprinted electrical wires, thethin flexible spirals worn around the user's fingers and thumbs.
 11. Thedata entry device of claim 1, wherein the finger contacts and the thumbcontacts are located on rings that are worn on the user's fingers andthumbs.
 12. The data entry device of claim 11, wherein the rings on eachfinger are connected to each other and to a signal encoder via flexiblewires.
 13. The data entry device of claim 12, wherein the flexible wiresare spiral wires.
 14. The data entry device of claim 11, wherein anapplication and retrieving device is used for placing the rings on orremoving the rings off of the user's fingers and thumbs.
 15. The dataentry device of claim 1, wherein the thumb contacts and finger contactsare positioned on the fingers and thumbs of both of the user's hands.16. The data entry device of claim 1, wherein: the thumb contacts andthe finger contacts are positioned on one of the user's hands; and thedata entry device further comprises a sensor configured to detectpositioning of the user's hand having the contacts, the sensor togglingbetween two sets of characters, a first set of characters beingequivalent to a first set of characters on a half-keyboard in a firstconfiguration and a second set of characters being equivalent to asecond set of characters on the half-keyboard in a second toggledconfiguration.